The next morning, Autumn found herself seated in a quiet café, her nerves fraying as she stirred her untouched cup of tea. The smell of coffee and baked goods hung in the air, but it did little to calm her. She glanced at the entrance, half-hoping her mother wouldn’t show up.

Her fingers rested on her belly as the baby shifted. She took a deep breath, reminding herself this wasn’t just about her—it was about her family, about Lucas, the twins, Ariel and Abel. She didn’t want to her pass down her bitterness and resentment towards her mother to her children. She did have a good relationship with her grandma...